Display device with visually-distinguishable watermark area and non-watermark area

ABSTRACT

A display device comprises a layer of display cells separated from each other by partition walls and filled with a display fluid. The display of the invention is divided into a non-watermark area and a watermark area, the latter forming a watermark. The watermark aims to protect against counterfeiting or to be used for decoration purposes. The watermark is visible at certain viewing angles and/or under certain lighting conditions and it does not interfere with displaying of the regular images. For example, each of the display cells in the watermark area may have a different size from each of the display cells in the non-watermark area. Alternatively, the watermark area differs from the non-watermark area in at least one parameter selected from partition wall height, partition wall width and the shape of each display cell, and the watermark area is divided into at least two parts having differing values of the parameter.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 13/896,232, filed May 16, 2013 (Publication No. 2013/0321744, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,470,917 issued Oct. 18, 2016), which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Applications Nos. 61/660,372, filed Jun. 15, 2012; and 61/653,210, filed May 30, 2012; the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

The entire contents of all U.S. patents and published and copending applications mentioned below are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a display device wherein the viewing side of the display device has a watermark area and a non-watermark area and the display cells in the watermark area are modulated to be distinguishable from the display cells in the non-watermark area. The display device comprising the watermark feature is useful for protecting against counterfeiting or decoration purposes.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,930,818 and 6,795,138 disclose image display devices based on the microcup technology. The patents describe the manufacture of microcups as display cells. The microcups are then filled with a display fluid. The top openings of the microcups may have the same size and shape and such microcups spread across the entire display surface.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The first aspect of the present invention is directed to a display device comprising display cells wherein the viewing side of the display device has a watermark area and a non-watermark area and the display cells in the watermark area are modulated to be distinguishable from the display cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the walls of the display cells in the watermark area have a different width than the walls of the display cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the walls of the display cells in the watermark area are thicker than the walls of the display cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the walls of the display cells in the watermark area are thinner than the walls of the display cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the walls of the display cells in the watermark area are at least about 5% thicker or thinner than those in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the walls of the display cells in the watermark area have different thickness.

In one embodiment, the wall of at least one side of a display cell in the watermark area has varying thickness.

In one embodiment, the walls of the display cells in the watermark area have a different height than the walls of the display cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the display cells in the watermark area have a different shape than the display cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the display cells in the watermark area have more than one type of shape.

In one embodiment, the display cells in the watermarks area have a different size from the cells in the non-watermark area. For example, the cells in the watermark area may be at least twice as large (in both lateral dimensions) as the cells in the non-watermark area. Alternatively, the cells in the watermark area may be not more than one half the size of the cells in the non-watermark area.

In one embodiment, the display device is a reflective type of display device.

In one embodiment, the display device is a transmissive type of display device.

In one embodiment, the display device is a transreflective type of display device.

In one embodiment, the display device is an electrophoretic display.

In one embodiment, the display device is a liquid crystal display.

In one embodiment, the display device further comprises a color layer on the non-viewing side of the display device. The color layer may be a sealing layer, an adhesive layer or an electrode layer.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a display device comprising display cells separated by partition walls wherein at least one parameter of the display cells in the watermark area is modulated with at least two variations which are different from that parameter in the non-watermark area. In one embodiment, the parameter is the partition wall height. In another embodiment, the parameter is the partition wall width. In a further embodiment, the parameter is the shape of the display cells.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict top view of display devices.

FIG. 3 shows a watermark area in which the walls of the display cells are thicker or wider than those in the non-watermark area.

FIG. 4 shows the wall thickness in the watermark area may vary.

FIG. 5 shows the thickness of the wall on at least one side of a display cell may vary.

FIG. 6 shows a watermark area in which the shape of the display cells is different from that in the non-watermark area.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a display panel.

FIG. 8 shows a watermark having different color intensities.

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a display panel, which has different heights of partition walls 90 a in watermark area (W) and non-watermark area (nW).

FIG. 10 shows a watermark area in which the walls of the display cells are thinner than those in the non-watermark area.

FIG. 11A is a top plan view, similar to that of FIG. 6, of a display panel in which the size of the display cells differs between the watermark and non-watermark areas.

FIG. 11B is a section along line B-B in FIG. 11A looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 12A is a top plan view, similar to that of FIG. 11A, of a display panel having non-watermark and first and second watermark areas in which the height and width of the partition walls differ between the non-watermark area and the first watermark area, and between the first and second watermark areas.

FIG. 12B is a section along line B-B in FIG. 12A looking in the direction of the arrows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present inventors have now found that a watermark feature may be added to a display device, which watermark is useful to protect against counterfeiting when a security measure is required for the display device. In addition, the watermark may also be used for ornamental design/decoration purposes.

The watermark feature may be achieved by modulating (i.e., altering) at least one parameter of the display cells, in the watermark area.

FIGS. 1 and 2 depict top views of a display device. In the two examples, the display cells have a square or hexagonal top opening, respectively. The entire surface of the display device may be divided into the display cell area (shaded) and the partition wall area (11 and 21). The display cell area comprises a plurality of display cells (12 and 22) which are micro-containers filled with a display element, such as a display fluid.

Each individual display cell usually has a cell width (cw) smaller than 300 μm. The cell width, in the context of this application, is defined as the distance between two opposing parallel sides of a display cell.

Because of their small size and uniform shape, the individual display cells are barely perceivable by naked eyes. Therefore such a display device can display images without the grid-like feel.

The wall width (ww) of the partition walls is usually in the range of about 5 to about 30 μm. When referring to partition walls in this application, “width” and “thickness” and “wider” and “thicker” are used interchangeably.

Therefore, display devices prepared by the microcup technology (as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,930,818 and 6,795,138) are most suitable for the present invention because the microcup-based display cells are sufficiently small and they may be formed to have a uniform size and shape. However, the scope of the invention may also extend to any display device as long as it has display cells which are sufficiently small and have well-defined sizes and shapes that may be pre-determined before manufacture.

The microcup-based display cells may be manufactured by any of the processes (such as microembossing) described in the US patents identified above. Briefly the modulated parameter(s) may be built-in in the male mold to be used for forming the microcup-based display cells in an embossing process.

The display element filled in the display cells may be an electrophoretic fluid comprising charged pigment particles dispersed in a solvent or solvent mixture. An electrophoretic display typically comprises two plates with electrodes placed opposing each other. When a voltage difference is imposed between the two electrodes, the pigment particles in the display fluid migrate to one side or the other causing either the color of the pigment particles or the color of the solvent being seen from the viewing side.

Alternatively, an electrophoretic fluid may comprise two types of charged pigment particles of contrasting colors and carrying opposite charges, and the two types of the charged pigment particles are dispersed in a clear solvent or solvent mixture. In this case, when a voltage difference is imposed between the two electrode plates, the two types of the charged pigment particles would move to opposite ends (top or bottom) in a display cell. Thus one of the colors of the two types of the charged pigment particles would be seen at the viewing side of the display cell.

While electrophoretic display is specifically mentioned, it is understood that the present application is applicable to other types of display device as well, such as other types of reflective display device or transmissive and transreflective display devices, including liquid crystal display devices.

The watermark created according to the present invention is visible at certain viewing angles and/or under certain lighting conditions. The watermark would not interfere with the desired regular images displayed (based on movement of charged pigment particles in a solvent or solvent mixture in an electrophoretic display, for example).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the width of the partition walls of the display cells is modulated. As shown in FIG. 3, the display device has a watermark area (W) and a non-watermark area (nW). In the watermark area (alphabet “E”), the partition walls of the display cells are wider or thicker than those in the non-watermark area.

In another embodiment, the partition walls in the watermark area may be thinner than those in the non-watermark area.

In general, the width of the partition walls in the watermark area may be at least about 5% thicker or thinner than those in the non-watermark area. It is noted that the wall thickness in some of the drawings is exaggerated for clarity.

In another embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, the thickness of the partition walls in the watermark area may vary. In this case, the differences in the wall width can generate different levels of color intensity to display a grey-scale-like image for the watermark.

In a further embodiment as shown in FIG. 5, the wall thickness may vary within the partition wall on at least one side of a display cell. By varying the wall thickness on at least one side of a display cell, it may create a different optical effect in the watermark area to cause it to be distinguished from the non-watermark area.

In yet a further embodiment, the shape of the display cells may be a modulating parameter. In an example as shown in FIG. 6, the display cells in the watermark area (alphabet “O”) have a different shape (i.e., triangle) than those in the non-watermark area (i.e., square). The shapes in the watermark area or the non-watermark area are not limited to triangle or square. They may be any regular shapes or irregular shapes as long as the shape of the display cells in the watermark area is different from that in the non-watermark area. It is also possible that not all of the display cells in the watermark area have the same shape. The term “shape”, in this embodiment of the invention, refers to the shape of the top opening of the display cells.

In yet a further embodiment (not illustrated in the drawings), the size of the display cells may be a modulating parameter. For example, in a modification of the display shown in FIG. 6, instead of the display cells in the watermark area being (notionally) obtained from the cells in the non-watermark area by dividing each rectangular cell diagonally to produce two triangular cells, each cell may be divided by walls parallel to its original walls to divide each cell into a 2×2, 3×3 . . . etc. array of cells which share the shape of the cells in the non-watermark area but are smaller in both lateral dimensions. Alternatively, the cells in the watermark area may be made larger than those in the non-watermark area by removing partition walls between cells in the watermark area, thus combining four, nine etc. cells in the watermark area into a single cell two or three etc. times as large in both lateral dimensions as the cells in the non-watermark area.

The different shapes of the display cells in the watermark area may be achieved by a number of methods. Certain methods are described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/765,588, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Briefly, the design of the different shape of the display cells (e.g., microcups) in the watermark area may be achieved by removing partition walls of non-altered display cells and replacing the removed partition walls with new partition walls. Alternatively, the design of the different shape of the display cells (e.g., microcups) in the watermark area may be achieved by independently shifting apex points of non-altered display cells within a defined area, and reconnecting the shifted apex points. Utilizing these design methods, the display cells in the watermark area may have different shapes (i.e., randomized).

In yet a further embodiment, the height of the partition walls of the display cells may be a modulating parameter for the watermark area.

The watermark is not limited to characters, numbers or geometric shapes. It may also be complex images such as pictures with grey levels.

As stated above, the watermark may only be visible in a display device at certain angles or under strong lighting conditions; and it usually will not be seen in the normal display mode so that the quality of the regular images displayed is not affected.

FIG. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of a display panel. A plurality of display cells (70) filled with a display fluid, are sandwiched between two electrode layers (71 and 72). As discussed above, the width of the display cell walls (70 a) may be modulated to form a watermark. In the case of microcup-based display cells, the filled microcups are sealed with a sealing layer (73). The electrode layer (71) is laminated over the filled and sealed microcups, optionally with an adhesive layer (74). This display panel is viewed from the side of the electrode layer (72).

In one embodiment of the present invention, a color layer may be added to enhance the viewing of the watermark. The color layer is on the side opposite of the viewing side. In other words, the color layer is on the non-viewing side.

When a color layer is present, the watermark can be better seen even when the image is at the full black or white color state.

The color layer may be achieved by making the sealing layer (73), the adhesive layer (74) or the electrode layer (71) colored. For example, a pigment or dye material may be added to a sealing composition or adhesive composition to cause the sealing or adhesive layer to be colored. The electrode layer may be colored (e.g., a metallic shade).

FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of a display panel. A plurality of display cells (90) filled with a display fluid are sandwiched between two electrode layers (91 and 92). The filled display cells are sealed with a sealing layer (93). In one embodiment, the sealing layer is a color layer. The heights of partition walls (90 a) in a watermark (W) are different from those in the non-watermark area (nW).

In another aspect, each modulating parameter, according to the present invention, may have one or more variations in the watermark area from the non-watermark area. For example, the wall widths of the display cells may be modulated and the display cells in the watermark area may have one or more wall widths which are different from that in the non-watermark area. In another example, the wall heights of the display cells may be modulated and the display cells in the watermark area may have one or more wall heights which are different from that in the non-watermark area. In another example, the shapes of the display cells may be modulated and in this case, the display cells in the watermark area may have one or more shapes which are different from that in the non-watermark area.

When there are two or more variations for a modulating parameter in the watermark area, the watermark may show different color intensities. As shown in FIG. 8, there are different color intensities in the watermark area (i.e., a logo and the word “SiPix”) because there are more than one wall widths which are different from that in the non-watermark area.

FIG. 11A is a top plan view, similar to that of FIG. 6, of a display panel in which the size of the display cells differs between the watermark and non-watermark areas, with FIG. 11B being a partial section through the display panel. As is conventional, the display panel shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is planar. As may readily be seen from FIGS. 11A and 11B, each cell 70 b in the non-watermark area has each lateral dimension in the plane of the display panel approximately twice as large as that of each of the cells 70 c and 70 d. Thus, as illustrated the cells in the non-watermark area are twice as large in both lateral dimensions as the cells in the watermark area. Alternatively, of course, cell 70 b could form part of the watermark area, while cells 70 c and 70 d could form part of the non-watermark area, so that in this case the cells in the non-watermark area would be approximately one-half as large in both lateral dimensions as the cells in the watermark area.

FIG. 12A is a top plan view, similar to that of FIG. 11A, of a display panel having non-watermark and first and second watermark areas in which the height and width of the partition walls differ between the non-watermark area and the first watermark area, and between the first and second watermark areas, with FIG. 12B being a partial section through the display panel. The display panel shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B has a non-watermark area N, a first watermark area W1 and a second watermark area W2. FIG. 12B illustrates a section through two cells 70 e in the non-watermark area N, two cells 70 f in the first watermark area W1 and two cells, 70 g in the second watermark area W2. Although the overall size of the cells (including the partition walls) in the three areas is the same, the thicknesses of the partition walls in the non-watermark area is less than the thicknesses of the partition walls in the first watermark area W1, which in turn is less than the thicknesses of the partition walls in the second watermark area W2

As discussed above with reference to FIG. 7, a color layer may be added to enhance the viewing of the watermark, this color layer being provided on the non-viewing side of the display. The color layer may be provided by adding a dye or pigment to the sealing layer, adhesive layer or (non-viewing) electrode layer present in the panels of FIGS. 11A, 11B, 12A and 12B.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, materials, compositions, processes, process step or steps, to the objective and scope of the present invention. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising a layer of display cells filled with a display fluid, the display device further comprising partition walls separating the display cells, and wherein the display device has a watermark area and a non-watermark area, each of the display cells in the watermark area has a first size, each of the display cells in the non-watermark area has a second size, and the first size differs from the second size.
 2. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display cells are arranged in a plane, and each of the display cells in the watermark area is at least twice as large in both dimensions in the plane of the layer of display cells as each of the display cells in the non-watermark area.
 3. The display device of claim 1, wherein the display cells are arranged in a plane, and each of the display cells in the watermark area is not more than one half the size in both dimensions in the plane of the layer of display cells as each of the display cells in the non-watermark area.
 4. The display device of claim 1, which is a reflective type of display device.
 5. The display device of claim 1, which is a transmissive type of display device.
 6. The display device of claim 1, which is a transreflective type of display device.
 7. The display device of claim 1, which is an electrophoretic display.
 8. The display device of claim 1, which is a liquid crystal display.
 9. A display device comprising display cells separated by partition walls, the display device having a first watermark area, a second watermark area and a non-watermark area, and wherein for at least one parameter selected from partition wall height, partition wall width and the shape of each display cell, the parameter has a first value in the non-watermark area, a second value in the first watermark area and a third value in the second watermark area, and the first, second and third values are all different from each other. 